David Alvarez, PhD
Dr. Dave Alvarez is a Supervisory Research Chemist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
His focus is on the development of innovative methodologies for passive sampler design and complex mixture analysis of various environmental matrices. Research is conducted on emerging and historic contaminants; assessment of the exposure of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans to anthropogenic chemicals; and identification of chemicals and their potential sources. The link between chemical occurrence and biological effects are investigated using passive samplers as surrogate biological organisms and screening sampler extracts with in vitro and in vivo tests for estrogenicity, acute toxicity, reproductive and developmental abnormalities. The research is designed to expand the understanding of the roles of physicochemical parameters and environmental factors on the uptake mechanisms of passive samplers. Through our experience and expertise, this research group is recognized as an international leader in the field of passive sampling technologies.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental/Analytical Chemistry, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999
B.S. Chemistry, Missouri Western State College, 1995
Affiliations and Memberships*
2005-present Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
1993-present Member, American Chemical Society Environmental Division
1992-present Member, American Chemical Society
Science and Products
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS
The application of passive sampling technologies for the monitoring of legacy and emerging organic chemicals in the environment is becoming widely accepted worldwide.
Filter Total Items: 15
Filter Total Items: 15
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 80
Effects of wastewater discharges on endocrine and reproductive function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and implications for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)
The Santa Ana River (SAR) in southern California is impacted by effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which are sources of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) and urban runoff. The Santa Ana River is one of only three river basins supporting native populations of the federally listed Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) at the time the fish was included on the list 2000...
Authors
Jill A. Jenkins, Steven L Goodbred, Heather M. Olivier, Rassa O. Dale, David A. Alvarez
Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants
The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, V.L. Schroeder, Luke Iwanowicz, R.C. Clark, C.P. Guy, Alfred E. Pinkney, Vicki S. Blazer, J.E. Mullican
Uptake rate constants and partition coefficients for vapor phase organic chemicals using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs)
To fully utilize semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive samplers in air monitoring, data are required to accurately estimate airborne concentrations of environmental contaminants. Limited uptake rate constants (kua) and no SPMD air partitioning coefficient (Ksa) existed for vapor-phase contaminants. This research was conducted to expand the existing body of kinetic data for...
Authors
Walter L. Cranor, D.A. Alvarez, J.N. Huckins, J. Todd Petty
Semivolatile organic compounds in residential air along the Arizona - Mexico border
Concerns about indoor air quality and the potential effects on people living in these environments are increasing as more reports about the toxicities and the potential indoor air exposure levels of household-use chemicals and chemicals fromhousingandfurnishingmanufactureinairarebeingassessed. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to confirm numerous airborne contaminants...
Authors
R.W. Gale, Walter L. Cranor, D.A. Alvarez, J.N. Huckins, J. Todd Petty, G.L. Robertson
How useful are the "other" semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs); the mini-unit (15.2 cm long)?
Mini (15.2 cm) semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were used successfully in 169 streams from six metropolitan areas of the US to sequester hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) that are indicative of urbanization. A microscale assay the P450RGS, which responds to compounds that bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and the Fluoroscan, a chemical screen for polycyclic aromatic...
Authors
Steven L Goodbred, Wade B. Bryant, Michael R. Rosen, David A. Alvarez, Terri Spencer
Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment plant discharge
Intersex (specifically, testicular oocytes) has been observed in male smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) and other centrarchids in the South Branch of the Potomac River, USA, and forks of the Shenandoah River, USA, during the past five years. This condition often is associated with exposure to estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemicals in some fish species, but such chemicals and...
Authors
Luke Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer, C.P. Guy, Alfred E. Pinkney, J.E. Mullcan, D.A. Alvarezw
Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, northeast Ohio
The U.S. Geological Survey - in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority; National Park Service; Cities of Aurora, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Solon, and Twinsburg; and Portage and Summit Counties - and in collaboration with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, did a study to determine the occurrence and distribution of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) in the Tinkers...
Authors
John S. Tertuliani, D.A. Alvarez, Edward Furlong, M. T. Meyer, S.D. Zaugg, Greg F. Koltun
Reconnaissance of persistent and emerging contaminants in the Shenandoah and James River Basins, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
Fish exhibiting external lesions, incidences of intersex, and death have recently been observed in the Shenandoah and James River Basins. These basins are characterized by widespread agriculture (intensive in some areas), several major industrial discharges, numerous sewage treatment plant discharges, and urban, transportation, and residential growth that has increased rapidly in recent...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Stephanie D. Perkins, Vickie Schroeder, Stephen L. Werner, Edward Furlong, Donald Kain, Robert N. Brent
Investigation of organic chemicals potentially responsible for mortality and intersex in fish of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
Declining fish health, fish exhibiting external lesions, incidences of intersex, and death, have been observed recently within the Potomac River basin. The basin receives surface runoff and direct inputs from agricultural, industrial, and other human activities. Two locations on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River were selected for study in an attempt to identify chemicals that may...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Stephanie D. Perkins, Vickie Schroeder, Stephen L. Werner, Edward Furlong, John Holmes
Chemical and toxicologic assessment of organic contaminants in surface water using passive samplers
Passive sampling methodologies were used to conduct a chemical and toxicologic assessment of organic contaminants in the surface waters of three geographically distinct agricultural watersheds. A selection of current-use agrochemicals and persistent organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides, were targeted...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, R.C. Clark, S.B. Smith
Chapter 8 Tool for monitoring hydrophilic contaminants in water: polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS)
The development of the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) provides environmental scientists and policy makers a tool for assessing the presence and potential impacts of the hydrophilic component of these organic contaminants. The POCIS provides a means for determining the time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of targeted chemicals that can be used in risk assessments...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, James N. Huckins, Jimmie D. Petty, Tammy L. Jones-Lepp, Frank Stuer-Lauridsen, Dominic T. Getting, Jon P. Goddard, Anthony Gravell
Feasibility of a simple laboratory approach for determining temperature influence on SPMD–air partition coefficients of selected compounds
Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) are a widely used passive sampling methodology for both waterborne and airborne hydrophobic organic contaminants. The exchange kinetics and partition coefficients of an analyte in a SPMD are mediated by its physicochemical properties and certain environmental conditions. Controlled laboratory experiments are used for determining the SPMD–air (Ksa's)...
Authors
Aurelija Cicenaite, James N. Huckins, David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Robert W. Gale, Violeta Kauneliene, Per-Anders Bergqvist
Science and Products
Passive Sampling Using SPMDs and POCIS
The application of passive sampling technologies for the monitoring of legacy and emerging organic chemicals in the environment is becoming widely accepted worldwide.
Filter Total Items: 15
Filter Total Items: 15
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 80
Effects of wastewater discharges on endocrine and reproductive function of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp.) and implications for the threatened Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae)
The Santa Ana River (SAR) in southern California is impacted by effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), which are sources of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) and urban runoff. The Santa Ana River is one of only three river basins supporting native populations of the federally listed Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) at the time the fish was included on the list 2000...
Authors
Jill A. Jenkins, Steven L Goodbred, Heather M. Olivier, Rassa O. Dale, David A. Alvarez
Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants
The seasonal occurrence of organic contaminants, many of which are potential endocrine disruptors, entering the Potomac River, USA, watershed was investigated using a two-pronged approach during the fall of 2005 and spring of 2006. Passive samplers (semipermeable membrane device and polar organic chemical integrative sampler [POCIS]) were deployed in tandem at sites above and below...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, V.L. Schroeder, Luke Iwanowicz, R.C. Clark, C.P. Guy, Alfred E. Pinkney, Vicki S. Blazer, J.E. Mullican
Uptake rate constants and partition coefficients for vapor phase organic chemicals using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs)
To fully utilize semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive samplers in air monitoring, data are required to accurately estimate airborne concentrations of environmental contaminants. Limited uptake rate constants (kua) and no SPMD air partitioning coefficient (Ksa) existed for vapor-phase contaminants. This research was conducted to expand the existing body of kinetic data for...
Authors
Walter L. Cranor, D.A. Alvarez, J.N. Huckins, J. Todd Petty
Semivolatile organic compounds in residential air along the Arizona - Mexico border
Concerns about indoor air quality and the potential effects on people living in these environments are increasing as more reports about the toxicities and the potential indoor air exposure levels of household-use chemicals and chemicals fromhousingandfurnishingmanufactureinairarebeingassessed. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to confirm numerous airborne contaminants...
Authors
R.W. Gale, Walter L. Cranor, D.A. Alvarez, J.N. Huckins, J. Todd Petty, G.L. Robertson
How useful are the "other" semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs); the mini-unit (15.2 cm long)?
Mini (15.2 cm) semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were used successfully in 169 streams from six metropolitan areas of the US to sequester hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) that are indicative of urbanization. A microscale assay the P450RGS, which responds to compounds that bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and the Fluoroscan, a chemical screen for polycyclic aromatic...
Authors
Steven L Goodbred, Wade B. Bryant, Michael R. Rosen, David A. Alvarez, Terri Spencer
Reproductive health of bass in the potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment plant discharge
Intersex (specifically, testicular oocytes) has been observed in male smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) and other centrarchids in the South Branch of the Potomac River, USA, and forks of the Shenandoah River, USA, during the past five years. This condition often is associated with exposure to estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemicals in some fish species, but such chemicals and...
Authors
Luke Iwanowicz, Vicki S. Blazer, C.P. Guy, Alfred E. Pinkney, J.E. Mullcan, D.A. Alvarezw
Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, northeast Ohio
The U.S. Geological Survey - in cooperation with the Ohio Water Development Authority; National Park Service; Cities of Aurora, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Solon, and Twinsburg; and Portage and Summit Counties - and in collaboration with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, did a study to determine the occurrence and distribution of organic wastewater compounds (OWCs) in the Tinkers...
Authors
John S. Tertuliani, D.A. Alvarez, Edward Furlong, M. T. Meyer, S.D. Zaugg, Greg F. Koltun
Reconnaissance of persistent and emerging contaminants in the Shenandoah and James River Basins, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
Fish exhibiting external lesions, incidences of intersex, and death have recently been observed in the Shenandoah and James River Basins. These basins are characterized by widespread agriculture (intensive in some areas), several major industrial discharges, numerous sewage treatment plant discharges, and urban, transportation, and residential growth that has increased rapidly in recent...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Stephanie D. Perkins, Vickie Schroeder, Stephen L. Werner, Edward Furlong, Donald Kain, Robert N. Brent
Investigation of organic chemicals potentially responsible for mortality and intersex in fish of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
Declining fish health, fish exhibiting external lesions, incidences of intersex, and death, have been observed recently within the Potomac River basin. The basin receives surface runoff and direct inputs from agricultural, industrial, and other human activities. Two locations on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River were selected for study in an attempt to identify chemicals that may...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Stephanie D. Perkins, Vickie Schroeder, Stephen L. Werner, Edward Furlong, John Holmes
Chemical and toxicologic assessment of organic contaminants in surface water using passive samplers
Passive sampling methodologies were used to conduct a chemical and toxicologic assessment of organic contaminants in the surface waters of three geographically distinct agricultural watersheds. A selection of current-use agrochemicals and persistent organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides, were targeted...
Authors
D.A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, S.D. Perkins, R.C. Clark, S.B. Smith
Chapter 8 Tool for monitoring hydrophilic contaminants in water: polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS)
The development of the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) provides environmental scientists and policy makers a tool for assessing the presence and potential impacts of the hydrophilic component of these organic contaminants. The POCIS provides a means for determining the time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of targeted chemicals that can be used in risk assessments...
Authors
David A. Alvarez, James N. Huckins, Jimmie D. Petty, Tammy L. Jones-Lepp, Frank Stuer-Lauridsen, Dominic T. Getting, Jon P. Goddard, Anthony Gravell
Feasibility of a simple laboratory approach for determining temperature influence on SPMD–air partition coefficients of selected compounds
Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) are a widely used passive sampling methodology for both waterborne and airborne hydrophobic organic contaminants. The exchange kinetics and partition coefficients of an analyte in a SPMD are mediated by its physicochemical properties and certain environmental conditions. Controlled laboratory experiments are used for determining the SPMD–air (Ksa's)...
Authors
Aurelija Cicenaite, James N. Huckins, David A. Alvarez, Walter L. Cranor, Robert W. Gale, Violeta Kauneliene, Per-Anders Bergqvist
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government